Lyric Theatre Development Timeline
1951
Lyric Players founded with the staging of a production of Robert Farren’s Lost Light, which played to an invited audience in the consulting room of Dr Pearse and Mary O’Malley’s house at 117 Lisburn Road. The stage was the recess of a large bow-window.1952
The O’Malleys and the Lyric Players moved to Derryvolgie Avenue, staging plays in their new studio theatre – a 10ft x 12ft stage area within a converted stable loft attached to the house. Four years later, the studio was extended with the addition of a green room, dressing rooms, balcony and outside stairs. Lyric Drama School opened.1957
A literary magazine, Threshold, was launched publishing the work of established writers as well as new young writers and critics.1960
The Lyric Players Theatre formally established and registered as a non-profit making Association and Charitable Trust. The search begins for a site for the company’s first purpose-built theatre.1963
New Gallery opens in premises on the Grosvenor Road under the guidance of Alice Berger Hammerschlag. The Lyric’s Belfast Academy of Music founded.1965
Foundation stone laid by the poet Austin Clarke on Ridgeway Street site on June 12th, the Centenary Year of the birth of William Butler Yeats. A fundraising target of £110,000 is set, but raising the money proves problematic and the original designs are revised. Two years later, it is decided to begin building on the basis of the resources available, just over £70,000.1968
The Lyric Theatre opens on 26 October 1968. The first productions staged are the four Yeats plays of The Cuchulain Cycle, directed by Mary O’Malley.1977
Extension to theatre with improvements in stage areas, scenery dock and backstage accommodation.2003
Following several years of research, planning and feasibility studies, architects O’Donnell + Tuomey win a major open competition to design a new home for the Lyric and a campaign is launched to raise the funds to rebuild.2008
The original theatre finally closes its doors to the public with a glittering gala on 13 January, attended by the Lyric’s Patron Liam Neeson. A private gathering of major players in the theatre’s history is held on stage shortly afterwards. The original theatre is demolished and the site cleared in preparation.2009
Construction of the new theatre begins in March 2009. A special ceremony is held on site on 10 September at which Seamus Heaney unveils a new Threshold Stone, engraved with a stanza from the poem he wrote in 1965 for the founding of the original theatre.2010
A special ‘Topping Out’ event is held on 17 June 2010 as the last roof beam of the new theatre is put in place. The £18 million capital fundraising goal is finally reached in September.2011
Details of the first season of plays to be staged in the new theatre are launched at a large gathering in City Hall in January. The new Lyric Theatre officially opens 1 May 2011. The first production staged in the main auditorium is The Crucible, directed by Conall Morrison. The first production staged in the Naughton Studio is Brendan at the Chelsea, directed by Adrian Dunbar.